Safe Mode keeps restarting computer

i just moved into a dorm and to acess the internet first i have to run this program on my comp to check for viruses and updates but when the program goes to boot into safe mode to do the virus scan my computer just keeps restarting non stop until i choose to option to boot normally instead of safe mode. i can not get into safe mode on my own either cause of this problem. i am running windows xp professional and am using an asus k8v se deluxe motherboard.

if you run it in safe mode there should be no programs loaded, including virus scan.

hrm...maybe try booting in normal mode and running msconfig and turning off pretty much everything.

just wondering, what university are you at?

Im at Temple in philly and we have to do the same thing...and im a networking consultant for them! its fun!

My won't boot in safe mode also. Do you have sp2 installed? I don't know if it is sp2 but this didn't happen before I installed it. But anyway I'll be doing a fresh install soon since windows is starting to act funny.

This is a known issue around the net... Will link the best article in one minute...

Okay, couldn't find a really good article, but basically it sounds like what you need to do is enter recovery console or normal mode and run the system file checker... sfc /scannow

I would then download a DOS virus scanner, like F-Prot, and run that. You may have a virus which is causing this.

I think one of the following MSKB articles is what Matt was referring to...

Your computer repeatedly restarts after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=878474

Your computer repeatedly restarts, or it generates error messages when you roll back two
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;870892&Product=windowsxpsp2

After you install Windows XP Service Pack 2, your computer restarts continuously
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;873161&Product=windowsxpsp2

Windows desktop does not appear correctly, and you receive a "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc00000005)" error message after you enable the Norton CleanSweep Smart Sweep feature in Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;873155&Product=windowsxpsp2